The Jakarta Post, January 01, 2003
Christian, Muslim women promote peace in Maluku
Oktavianus Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Maluku
It is virtually unimaginable to many people in Ambon, or in Maluku province in general,
that amid the escalating sectarian conflict, which has claimed thousands of lives and
inflicted billions of rupiah in material losses, there is still a group of Muslim and
Christian women with a keen sense of humanity and a desire for peace.
This group calls itself Gerakan Perempuan Peduli Maluku (the Women's Movement
that Cares for Maluku - GPP Maluku), a loose organization set up in August 1999 at
the initiative of Sister Fransesco Mus. GPP aims to bring together Christian women
so that they can join forces to help women and children in Maluku, who have lost
nearly everything: their schooling, their childhood, their parents, their husbands and
their villages.
GPP was set up as a moral, apolitical, movement and is therefore not in the format of
a foundation. It is a non-profit organization and has no representative office. The
women associated with GPP have their meetings at different places: the office of the
governor of Maluku, the residence of the governor, the office of a mayor, the army
compound of air-borne infantry battalion 733/BS and several other locations.
"We held our first meeting at Rinamakana building and it was here that we decided to
stop all the violence and the conflicts. As we realized this goal could not be achieved
only by depending on Christian women, we contacted several Muslim women through
Aisyah Latuconsina (the wife of Governor Saleh Latuconsina) and Paula B. Renyaan,
deputy governor in charge of public welfare," (Sister) Brigitta Renyaan said recounting
how GPP came into being.
Several Muslim women agreed to join GPP Maluku. However, they could not do so
openly. At first they held meetings in secret. When GPP Maluku began its job, it
faced strong opposition from Christian and Muslim youths. "Abusive words were used
against us while the house of Leila Suad narrowly escaped a bomb blast," said Rev.
Etta Hendriks.
Despite these challenges, the spirit to cease all forms of violence and conflict was not
dampened. Official action of GPP Maluku began on Sept. 4, 1999. They voiced the
conscience of women before Maluku governor, the commander of Pattimura Military
Regional Command Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela and the then chief of Maluku Provincial
Police Col. Bugis Saman.
This action was aimed at urging the authorities to immediately stop all forms of
violence and conflict in Maluku. The group distributed cloth pamphlets reading "Stop
violence and conflicts" to the community and also in border areas, then highly prone
to the outbreak of sectarian conflicts. "Ibu Aisyah Latuconsina happened to have the
cloth and she gave it to us," said Sister Renyaan.
After this, GPP Maluku changed its target and conducted special training for Christian
and Muslim married women. In their observation, many children of the two conflicting
camps were involved in the conflicts because their parents, particularly their mothers,
neither prohibited them from doing so nor paid special attention to them. "We hope
the training can enable the women to make their children realize that it is no use
being involved in the conflicts," said Retty Assegaf, the coordinator of GPP Maluku for
the Muslim community.
Meanwhile, Leila Suad, who is actively involved in humanitarian activities amid the
conflicts, said the women and children in Maluku had become victims in a game
played by adults, particularly males. "Ordinary people have become victims so we
must bring all parties to their senses," she noted.
Other active members of GPP Maluku within the Muslim community include Syul
Latuconsina, Thun Latuconsina and Ema Tatuhey. From the Catholic community,
activists include Etty Dumatubun, Oly and Tety Soukota. From the Protestant
community, those who are active are, among others, Senda Titaley, Etta Hendriks
and C. Saimima.
Slowly but surely, GPP Maluku has made itself known to the wider community. Their
campaign to stop the violence and conflicts is echoing everywhere. They have not only
made an appeal but have also visited the camps for displaced people, organized
workshops on trauma counseling and undertaken activities involving the children of the
Christian and Muslim communities. They have also approached Catholic and
Protestant priests, Muslim teachers and clerics.
However, challenges have come and gone following the rise and decline of tensions.
Still, for Sister Renyaan, these challenges have even inflamed her spirit further. "Jesus
faced challenges, let alone human beings," she said, proudly.
Therefore, GPP Maluku has never stopped voicing its appeal to stop violence and
conflicts although many of its members have fallen victim to snipers. GPP Maluku has
lodged a protest, saying that they are not fighting in the interests of any community
and that they will help victims of the conflict regardless of their religion.
"When snipers were on a shooting spree in downtown Ambon, we met the then chief
of staff of general affairs of the Indonesian Military Lt. Gen. Suaidi Marasabessy and
asked that Indonesian Military find the snipers. We have faced a lot of challenges but
we have never retreated in the pursuit of our goal. On the contrary, our spirit has been
even further inflamed," stressed Sister Renyaan (45), who is attached to the Amboina
Diocese.
She said she had to be consistent in the struggle to stop violence and to fight for the
rights of children and women amid conflicts. "I say right to what is right and wrong to
what is wrong. I am ready to risk being expelled from the diocese or even to die. I'm
prepared to fight for the truth," she stressed.
"Women must do something to stop the conflict," said Etta Hendriks (50), who has a
PhD in Christian Philosophy and is one of the chairpersons of the central board of the
Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) and a lecturer at the Indonesian Christian
University (UKI) of Maluku.
She further said that she was shocked to find that the conflicts had claimed so many
lives and that more and more people had become deeply involved in these conflicts.
"Nearly all people in Maluku, including children, have been provoked. That's why we
must unite to get out of this misery and violence," she said.
However, things are easier said than done. Although the Christians, in her view, are
more moderate, Christian members of GPP Maluku have also been criticized by fellow
Christians. "The challenges have particularly come from young males or the
grassroots. We understand their emotions but violence cannot be stopped with
violence. Only peace and continued campaigns can stop violence," she added.
That's why GPP Maluku has never blamed any party. Instead, it has urged that the
government stop the conflicts. "Praise the Lord, after four years of struggling for peace
amid conflicts, peace is now in sight. This is the fruit of hard work of all parties."
Although the situation is now improving, she said, some people are still traumatized
and mutual suspicion still lingers. Therefore, GPP Maluku will continue doing various
activities to achieve peace, for example by joining a joint breaking of the fast meal
even with the women who used to oppose GPP Maluku before such as those in
Wayame, Teluk Ambon Baguala district.
"The government must maintain the present situation. The people are tired of conflict.
The program of psychological and physical rehabilitation must continue to be
implemented and the return of displaced people to their home villages must already be
considered now," she stressed.
All contents copyright © of The Jakarta Post.
|
